Damian’s POVShe knows.Scarlett knew that she was my baby sister. She knew I was looking for her, and she watched me going after the wrong girl, probably even helped in that. She knows everything and she chose to keep them secrets.That realization aches me to my core.I can’t even begin to comprehend how she would hate me so much when I’m basically a stranger to her. So much so that she wouldn’t even come home to wealth, fame, and her own father?I thought Ava was Alice for like a day. But the more investigation comes back about their past, the clearer it got: Ava was the favored, the spoiled, the bully, and the liar. A stupid one no less. All this time she has been trying all she could to get my attention. She comes off as the tamed daughter, even with a lousy story about how she was adopted, too.Even if I can overlook Scarlett’s adoption history, and the fact that Scarlett appeared conveniently after Mom’s car crash in North Dakota, I wouldn’t have ruled her out just for her purp
Scarlett’s POVShivering in Sebastian’s suit, Ava stumbles back into Jack Fuller’s arms, along her side is Damian Vanderbilt. All three ignored me as they hinted at Sebastian to follow them. Coldness, sure, but none of them indicated any following up punishment for my “crime”.This is the mildest “consequences” I have gotten from hurting Ava in years. I’m not used to it.I follow them nervously, uncertain of where this is going. Finally when we reached the fancy gate of the house, Jack Fuller stopped in front of me, blocking my way. Ava shoots over a timid glance before she crawls into Damian Vanderbilt’s arms, waiting.My sentence is here.“Sebastian?” Ava murmurs, landing her hopeful eyes on him, “We are having dinner. Do you want to join us?”Before Sebastian could answer, Jack Fuller frowns at her: “Get inside, Ava.”Ava flinches at her father’s cold tone, then leaving with Damian Vanderbilt with a reluctant look. I glance in Sebastian’s direction and he looks back. I dart my eyes
Scarlett’s POVHis sorrowful tone digs up all the memories I bury deep -- all the moments where he would stare at me with pure hatred in his eyes, only to try to cover it up when he notices me, and failed to no less. In the end, he would just avoid looking at me with his tone getting colder and colder.I just thought it was because I was adopted, but now I understand.“Does...does your wife know about it?” I ask, not able to say the word “mom” even though I tried to. In my memory, she tried to love me, or at least, she tried to act as if she does.“She only knew I found an orphan with the same blood type in a hospital,” He shakes his head quickly, “She loves you, you know that. Everything Ava has she wants you to have, too.”No, quite the opposite. Everything I had, she wanted Ava to have, including Sebastian. Every “reward” she got me for donating blood, she got Ava; and when Ava got something just for being their lovely daughter, it was always kept unique for her.“I didn’t know you
Scarlett’s POVSebastian is in the shower.My mind was a mess in the car. I couldn’t even begin to think about Jack Fuller’s confession, Damian Vanderbilt’s questions, or even just Sebastian’s offer. In the end, the easiest decision was:He needed to get out of the wet shirt.He took my offer, but he put the hot water in the bathtub with my favorite salt, and he insisted on me taking a hot bath first. It did help a lot. I took my time in there, feeling the warmth of the water softening my stiff muscles. I only came out to see that he didn’t take a shower himself, but waited for me in his wet shirt.In my gentle pajamas and soft slippers, I curl up on the cushions of our bay window, watching the quiet night view outside. I don’t miss this view. This is where I usually sit when I have to wait for my husband over midnight, or when he leaves me alone after yet another fight.But now, this view gives me peace.It comes from his changes, I know. I didn’t dare hope for such a safety from him,
Ava’s POVMom sent me to a hot shower when Dad went to deal with the parasite who pushed me into the lake.I can’t believe it worked so smoothly. I always knew how to get to her, from luring her to escape home to making her push me into the water. She writes all her thoughts on her face. I knew mentioning the necklace would rile her up, and she thought I would physically hurt her. I’m not as stupid as she is! She did exactly what I thought she would: she pushed me into a lake in front of Sebastion.He hates bullies, and this will definitely drive a wedge between them.Ever since she told Sebastian about the misunderstanding ten years ago, he has been putting a distance between us. He wouldn’t come to hang out even if I begged, he wouldn’t return my texts, and he even asked his secretary to answer my phone calls! I never even said I was the girl he saved, I simply confirmed that it was mine when he asked about the yellow skirt.I know he is mad at me, but he is not ghosting me and that
Ava’s POVIs he still the dad who spoils me when I pull little tricks on Scarlett the bitch? “For what?! She stole from ME! She wouldn’t even be able to talk to Sebastian if she didn’t squeeze her head into MY family! Taking her place with the Vanderbilt is just a start of getting back she owes me!”“You are not--!” Dad bursts into a shout, only to halt himself halfway before he changes into a more patient tone, “Do you seriously think that the DNA test could fool anyone? Other methods aside, Scarlett looks exactly the same as her Mom!”“So...what? You published the news with me wearing the necklace!” I look at him in horror, not sure if I heard him right, “Everyone knows that I’m the Vanderbilt’s princess now! And you want to announce that as a mistake, on my BIRTHDAY?! You will ruin me!”“It’s better than letting them find out about it later,” Dad says coldly.His words freeze my heart. Does he even know what “ruin me” means? All that I have worked for in the entertainment business,
Scarlett’s POVSebastian puts his phone between us, on speaker.Quietly, I hug my knees, and curl my toes so they wouldn’t touch his phone. He shoots me a meaningful glance as he answers Ava: “I’ll call Jack before sending a doctor over. Take some rest if you can, or you won’t be able to attend your own birthday party--”Ava burst into crying and I flinch away from the phone.Sebastian takes his phone and puts it on the side away from me. He sits a bit closer to me and puts his warm hand on my shin, kneading slowly with a gentle force. I wrinkle my nose at him, typing on my phone:[You are just doing this for the baby’s sake!]He almost laughs out loud when I show him my screen, and he has to clear his throat to cover the laugh.“Sebastian?” Ava’s wronged murmur comes through, urging when he doesn’t reply in time.“Sorry, what did you say?” Sebastian blinks at his phone, totally absent-minded. I didn’t notice either.“I--” Ava hesitates, her tone unsure with a shred of shock, “Am I on
Scarlett’s POV“I’m sorry...” Sebastian grabs the frame of our door, so hard his fingers turn white. “I-- I...”He stutters for long, but no words come out.What COULD he say? Hours. Only a few HOURS after he told her no, he is on his way to see her, in the middle of the night.Because Ava cut her own wrist.“I...I won’t do anything inappropriate with her. I just...” With utter struggle in his eyes, Sebastian explains, to me, or to himself, “I mean, you can come along if you--”I cock my eyebrows and he instantly adds: “I’m sorry! I don’t mean that, I’m not asking you to come and help her! I swear!”I sigh. Only a few hours ago, I thought we could start over. I thought if Sebastian would take my side against Ava, then maybe we do have a chance at holding together a family. I was wrong. So long as Ava exists in his heart, she could drill a hole in our family no matter how generous I be.“I want to believe you, but what would you do if she really is dying of blood loss?” I look at him,